我的結他雜記: 要買好結他

欲望真的停不了，不過想法有點改變。那是因為一張舊照片，當中有一支是向（有錢）同學借來的結他，起碼廿年歷史，上拍賣網找找，估計值US$1000有多，相信除通脹後這支結他多少也升了值。對我的啟發是，還是多儲點錢買支好少少的結他，至低限度也保值，說不定還會升值！

目前目標是老字號中檔貨色like a Gibson ES-137:
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/ES/Gibson-Custom/ES-137-Classic.aspx

$2000 for a big brand name. It's 1 pound lighter than a Les Paul too. It's comfortable to hold (I mean the body is not huge) and the neck is comfortable to press. I also like the jazzy sound from the neck pickup. And it's not heavy. Very practical. Just wish it's more "pretty" You know, those big hollow-body archtop with tail piece look classier.

The Fender Japan Telecaster Thinline is another of my target:
http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/tn72g-ftmh.html
Gold pickguard on white body with f-hole. Not cheesy but classy!

我的結他雜記: 購買結他欲望停不了

I found out my Steinberger Spirit got some buzz when I played barre chord for the Berklee assignments. I'm not sure if I'm pressing the fretboard with the right pressure. I think it has more to do with the low E and A strings. In fact, even if I play single notes on these 2 strings, I need to be careful. Cannot press too hard and pick too hard or it will buzz. Fortunately, the buzz is not that noticeable when I record my playing for homeworks using the Korg Pandora. I like the Pandora a lot BTW. 

Anyway, seems like I have an excuse to buy a new guitar. Looked at these 2:

http://jazztimes.com/articles/15300-peavey-jf-1-exp-guitar

http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/guitars/electric/6-string-semi-acoustic/5th-avenue-cw-kingpin-295806/review

The former is about $350 after tax while the latter is about $1000. Basically, they model after Gibson ES-335 and ES-125.

ES-335 is played by both jazz, blues or even rock guitarist. According to that review, it's good with distortion. Feedback is not a problem.

ES-125 looks more like a jazz guitar. 

好想買支正宗jazz archtop，但人生好似又點都要買支ES335 style既結他，果支Peavey係cheap野，可以慳d錢。

About buying guitar, I think if I ever visit Japan, I'll check out those vintage (70s) Japanese copy of American guitar. Ibanez and Tokai copied quite a bit of Gibson, including ES335 and ES175 back then and they were of high quality. 聽講東京御茶之水有好多二手樂器店：
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_645e03fb0100gxxw.html

To fly the guitar back home, this might be useful:

http://paulblow.tripod.com/fly_with_guitar.html

 

我的結他雜記: Dorian and Mixolydian

These are 2 very common scales (actually modes) mentioned in jazz tutorials.

There are 7 modes from a major scale. Let's say C major:

C Ionian mode (same as C major scale): C D E F G A B

D Dorian mode: D E F G A B C

G Mixolydian mode: G A B C D E F

The most common jazz chord progression is ii-V-I. So, in C major, they are

C maj 7

D min 7

G dom 7

I was often taught to improvise by playing C major (or Ionian) notes over the Cmaj7 chord

D Dorian over Dmin7 and G Mixolydian over G7.

But I was also taught to look at ii-V-I progression and the key it belongs to as a whole. Just play notes from C major over all 3. In fact, D Dorian has the same notes as C major. G Mixolydian too.

Yet another thing I learned is that playing D Dorian doesn't require learning another fingering. Just use C major fingering but start on the 2nd note instead. To play G Mixolydian, starts on the 5th note. 

On the other hand, Berklee DOES teach different fingering for Dorian and Mixolydian. To play a C Dorian, you simply change 1 of the 5 C Major fingering by lowering the 3rd and 7th. And A Mixolydian is almost the same as A Major except you lower the 7th

Back to the topic of playing jazzy, there are a few things:

1) plays 7th chord. So, if you see a I chord, play maj7 instead of maj. Play min7 for a ii chord and dominant 7th for a V chord.

2) solo over the chord tones including the 7th and sometimes plays half step below or above these chord tones.

3) swing the 1/8 notes.

4) Use our old friend the minor pentatonic scale (and blues scale). It could be played over many chord types:

http://www.jazzguitar.be/major_guitar_chords.html

http://www.jazzguitar.be/minor_guitar_chords.html